Capturing The Perfect Wedding Cake: Lighting, Angles, And Creativity

Wedding cakes are a focal point of the reception and a great photo opportunity. To capture the perfect shot, you need to consider location, background and angle. It's important to get down to the level of the cake to make it look grand and important in the photo. You should also take a variety of shots, including wide, medium and close-up, to showcase the cake in its environment and highlight the unique details.

Location and background

When photographing a wedding cake, the location and background are key to getting a great shot. The location of the cake and the backdrop behind it are essential to nailing the perfect photo.

Some venues allocate a special place to display the wedding cake, but it's important to consider the background from a photographer's perspective. Windows, plug sockets, light switches, fire extinguishers, and signage can often appear in the background directly behind the cake, which isn't ideal.

To make the cake look important and grand in the photo, position your camera level with the base of the cake. This usually requires crouching down and will give the cake more prominence in the photo compared to shooting from a standing position.

Start with a wide shot to establish the scene, showcasing the cake in the wider environment of the reception hall. This captures the cake in its natural habitat and showcases the thought put into the reception layout by the planners and vendors.

Then, move in for a medium-framed shot to capture more of the cake's details while still showing the whole cake with fewer distractions. Finally, go for a close-up to showcase the unique details, including the topper and the patterns in the decorative frosting.

Camera angle

You should also consider the location of the cake and the backdrop behind it. Windows, plug sockets, light switches, fire extinguishers and signage can often appear in the background directly behind the cake, which isn't ideal. Instead, look for a backdrop that complements the cake and showcases it in its best light.

Start with a wide shot to establish the scene, showcasing the cake in the wider environment of the reception hall. This will give planners, vendors, and the happy couple a sense of how the cake fits into the overall design of the reception. Next, move in for a medium-framed shot to capture more of the cake's details. You should still be able to see the whole cake, but with fewer distractions in the background. Finally, go for a close-up to showcase the unique details of the cake, including the topper, frosting, and any other decorative elements.

It's also a good idea to take a variety of shots, including vertical and horizontal ones, as well as close-ups of the topper and base or any other interesting details on the cake. By following these tips and paying attention to your camera angle, you'll be able to capture stunning photos of the wedding cake that showcase its beauty and importance.

Camera level

To photograph a wedding cake, it is important to consider the camera level. The camera should be level with the base of the cake to make it look important and grand in the photo. This will usually require you to crouch down. This will give the cake more prominence in the photo compared to if you were to stand and shoot down at the cake.

You should also consider the location of the cake and the backdrop behind it. The location of the wedding cake is key to getting a great shot. Some venues allocate a special place to display the cake, but sometimes photographers need to move the cake to a better location. Windows, plug sockets, light switches, fire extinguishers and signage can often appear in the background directly behind the cake, which isn't ideal.

It is also a good idea to take a variety of shots. Start with a wide shot to establish the scene, then move in for a medium-framed shot to capture more of the cake’s details. Finally, go for a close-up to showcase the unique details of the wedding cake, including the topper and the patterns in the decorative frosting. You can also take one vertical shot, one horizontal shot, one detail of the topper, and one detail of the base or the most interesting part of the cake.

Wide shot

When photographing a wedding cake, it's important to consider the location, background, and angle of your shot. You should also think about the camera settings, but these are usually something a photographer can work out on their own.

For a wide shot, you'll want to showcase the cake in the wider environment of the reception hall. This will allow you to capture the cake in its natural habitat and show the thought that went into the layout of the reception.

To make the cake look important and grand, position your camera so that it's level with the base of the cake. This will usually require you to crouch down and will give the cake more prominence in the photo.

When setting up your wide shot, be mindful of the background. Windows, plug sockets, light switches, fire extinguishers, and signage can often appear directly behind the cake, which isn't ideal.

Close-up

When photographing a wedding cake, it's important to consider the location, background and angle of your shot. You should also think about the prominence of the cake in the photo. To make the cake look important and grand, you should position your camera at the same level as the base of the cake, which will usually require you to crouch down.

For close-up shots, you should focus on the unique details of the cake, including the topper, the base, and any patterns in the decorative frosting. You can also take a vertical and horizontal shot of the whole cake, before moving in for a close-up.

It's also worth considering the lighting and the wider environment of the reception hall. You should also be mindful of any distractions in the background, such as windows, plug sockets, light switches, fire extinguishers and signage.

Frequently asked questions